Tracker-board-adjusting mechanism.



Wl A. SCHROEDER.

TRACKER BOARD ADJUSTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, i915. 1,203,137.

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WI A. SCHROEDER. TRACKER BOARD DJLISTING'MECHANISMl APPLICATIONF|LEu11uNE3.1915.

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APPLICATION FILED )UNE 3. 1915. 1,203,137. Patented 0er. 31,196.

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TRACKER BOARD ADJUSTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3,1915.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

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UNITED sTATEs ra-TnNT caricia WILLIAM A. sciinonnnn. or snATTLn,WASHINGTON'.

TRACKER-BOARD-ADJUSTING MECHANSM.

Be it known .thatL VILLTAM A. SoHiioE- Dna, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of Seattle, in thecounty of King and State ofWashington, havey invented certain@ new and useful Improvementsin'Trackerl Boardjieidjusting Mechanisms, of which th following is aspecii'ication.

My invention'relates to automatic players l for pianos, organs, etc.,andconsists of improvenients in the tracker bars wherebyA adjustments areautomatically made to-accommodate `variations in the width of the musicsheets, particularly such as 'arecaused by variations of atmosphericmoisture.

The Anovel 'features of inyinvention will f beahereinafter described andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

I n the accompanying vdrawings I have shown myinvention inyits preferredform of construction. i

Figure 1 is-an elevation of the music and receivinfy rolls and the oaerat-ino' mechanismI tioned. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section `on` the vline 5-5 of Fig. 3. Figs. 6 and 7 are side and end elevationsl of therollturningand shifting'inechanisms. Figs. 8 `and 9 are sections takenrespectively on the lines 8 8 and -9-9of Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a side viewof 1 a tracker bar having ythereon the devices used by me for adjustingtit to compensate for small variations in width of the music sheet.`

Fig. 11 is an edge view, with portionsin section, of the same parts.Fig. 12 is a side view, partly in section, of one end of the trackerbar. 18V- 13 of Fig.` 10. Fig. 14 is a section on line 14T-11iy of Fig.10. Fig. 15 is 'a section on line 15-15 of Fig. 10. Fig. 16 showsadjustable tracker blocks, in 'perone of the spective. f y It has beenfound by experience, thatV the music sheets, used in player pianos, varysomewhat in width, according as they are Specification Aof LettersPatent.

Fig. 13 is a section on' linel dry or moist. Beingmade of paper' theyreadily absorb atmospheric moisture and become wider, 'contracting whenthe lmoisture is'expelled.: l 1

As the proper functioningof' the machine demands a proper registrationbetween thev holes in the paper and the Vports in the tracker board, andthe tracker board is notV similarly atl'ectedV by varying moisture con?ditions, theV holes the paper will not,fall'v holes of them at alltimes,` register with the or ports of the tracker board.

IS havea'lso AfoundY .that `the variation Vin thespacing oflthe `holesin the paper roll,

part, as, when rolled,the central part of theroll is moreprotected fromatmospheric moisture thanits ends. vTo remedy this, I

make a tracker board in which .a consideral able number of Vthefports,iat eachvend thereof, are subdivided into small units,`

these being proportionally adjustable'lengthwise the tracker board, tovary the spacing herein shown in detailin Figs. 10 to 15, is

Patented oet. ai, i916.

y i Application inea June 3,19115.v 'seriainaaiza Y f A dueto absorptionand expulsion of moisture, occurs 1n much lgreater degree inthe'marginal parts of the` roll, than Iin the. central that which ispreferred. The board 1 is, vor

may be, of usual or standard construction, eX- cept as otherwiseindicated. board and the arrangement of the ports 10, throughout aconsiderable distance at each The tracker side the center of its length,are of standard construction. j

For a distance at each end, the ports are 1n1blocks,2, of which cneisshown detached,

in perspective,l in Fig. 16. vThe blocks, as, shown, each contain twoports. Whileit is 1 desirable to keep the number of ports in. each blocksmall, the numberl might be somewhat increased.-

The tracker board 1, has a guide slot .at

each end, iittingcloselyV over the assembled blocksQ, and cfa length topermit the necesf sary adjustment: structed and mounted as to be easilymovable lengthwise the tracker board, while maintained in parallelposition.

Theseblocks are so con-` Any con-Vy struction which secures this resultmay be used. That shown and which I now prefer, is the following.

The blocks 2 are square, or rectangular, in cross section and are cutdown at each end to form the tenons, or webs, and shoulders 21, Therabbets thus formed receive the guide bars 11, which are secured to thetracker bar 1. These blocks have nipples 23 at one end, for connectionof flexible hose 24, which lead to the air-exhausting mechanism. It alsohas channels or ports extending from these nipples to the opposite end,the ports or tracker holes 10, 10, being the terminals thereof. Theseblocks are connected to be moved lengthwise the tracker board by somemechanism which will move them all simultaneously and proportionally;that is,

the outermost block will receive the maximum movement and the innermostthe least, the others between being moved amounts ywhich vary regularly,each from the next aderal and unequal separation due to the swing of thelevers, the bar 33 is vsecured only by pivoting at 33h, at the inner endof the series.

Each lever is connected with the next in the series by a link 30, thisconnection being closer to the pins 32 upon which the levers swing, forthat lever of any pair which is nearest the outer end of the trackerboard, than its connection with the lever inward hereof. This places theconnecting links 30 at an angle. The outermost lever of the series isthe one to which movement is primarily communicated. By reason of thedifferent distances at which the links 30 are connected I have shownfour sets of levers 3, em-

ployed for each set of blocks 2, a lever being connected to each end ofeach block, this being duplicated at each side. At the outer end of theseries a four armed yoke 34 has an arm connected, each with itsrespective lever 3, and an arm 36 which is connected with a rod 35.

Outward of the slot in the tracker bar which receives the blocks 2, is aslot which receives the tracker block 4, which is directly connectedwith the bent end of rod 35. A guide pin 41 may be employed to hold itin correct position. This block has a port or hole 40, which is designedto rregister with the 'edge of the music roll and to berautomaticallyshifted to compensate for the slight variations in width of the roll.These blocks 4 would be shifted outward or inward in conformity with themovement of the blocks 2. A hose 25 connects its port with the airoperating mechanism.

,The above parts are duplicated at each end of the tracker bar. A shortlink 37 connects the shortened rod 35 of one end with the lever 42, atone side of its pivot 43, while the long link 35 connects the oppositeblocks 4, with lever 42, at the opposite side of its pivot. Lever 42 isactuated by link 44, and this by bellows 45 and spring 46.

The .music roll 12 and receiving spool 13,

have their pivot axes, at one end, mounted to turn in spring held andaxially yielding sockets 14, to lfacilitate their insertion and removal.short shafts 15, which have thrust bearings against set screws 16,carried by levers 17, pivoted at one'end, as at 18, and with their otherend engaged by a shifting member. Such shifting member, as shown,consists of an eccentric 50 mounted on shaft 5 and enga ging the end oflever 17. This shaft has a crank arm 51, which is actuated through a rod52, or in any other suitable manner. By this mechanism the rollers maybe shifted to cause the roll to register accurately with the ports inthe tracker bar.

The above roll shifting mechanism may be actuated by any suitabledevice, as the double acting bellows 55, 56, which is of a standardconstruction and acts through link 54 and lever 53, upon rod 52. Theaction of these parts is controlled by the ports or tracker holes in theblocks 4, in accordance with the usual practice, except as to themovable character of these blocks.

The mechanism connecting the rolls 12 and 13 to turn them, shown indetail in Figs. 6

and 7, is of old construction. Any suitableV mechanism which properlyconnects these rolls may be employed.

The double acting bellows 55, 56, by which the rollers 12, 13 areshifted, is, in construction and operation, of standard type. It hasports 57, 57 Acontrolled by double acting valves 58, 58 connecting withan exhaust chamber 59 and a free air space 59. The air in exhaustchamber 59 is removed through a pipe 7 0 which connects with the exhausting mechanism used to operate devices of this character.

The mechanism for controlling the belvlows 45, by which the adjustabletracker blocks V2 are adjusted, is as follows, as illustrated in Figs. 1to 6.

An exhaust or vacuum chamber is pro` Their other ends are fitted upon''A in port 77, which communicates with free air, and ports 78 and 79.The port 78 connects two chambers formed therein, the one at the bottomcontaining adiaphragm 73 which may be seated to close port 78, and theone at the top containing Vdiaphragm 7 6, which may be seated to closeport 79. Port 79 also connects with anotherl recess which contains adiaphragm 9, which controls valve 90 and port 91, this communicating,through port 92, with the bellows 45. A port 84 connects chamber 95,back of diaphragm 72, with exhaust channel or port 8 and a port 85connects chamber 94, back of diaphragm 71, with exhaust channel or port81. A bleed hole 88, connects port 79 with the exhaust chambers 7, 7.Bleed holes 80 and 82, connect exhaust chamber 59 with ports 8 and 81,respectively. These bleed holes are, in each case, of much less sizethan l' the ports with which they are connected,

from which it follows that the pressure upon the side toward theexhausting mechanism, is less than upon the other side, so long as thesupply of air furnished to the outer fpassagesvis in any considerableamount.

` The roll shifting mechanism, shown in Figs. 6 to 9, is controlled bythe double acting bellows 55, 56, the action of these bellows beingcontrolled in a well known manner.

The extension 87 of port 8, leads to one roll shifting port in the endblock 4, and the extension '86 ofv port 81, leads to the Vlike block atthe other end. A stoppage of air supplied,through'these ports, by theirbeing covered bythe edge of the roll, lowers the pressure in vtheseports, causing the diaphragm 83 or l83', as the case may be, to drop,thus dropping the corresponding valve 58 or 58', placing the port 57 or57, in connection with the exhausting mechanism, thus causing alreduction of the air pressure in the side of the bellows connectedtherewith and moving the partition wall 54 over to thisside and thus,Vthrough link 54 and connected mechanisms, shifting the roll to secureits being positioned centrally of the two ports of blocks 4. y

The. position of parts shown in Fig. 4 is that where the two'ports 40aredifferently hvpositioned relative to the edges of the roll,

the `port 40 connectedwith port 8 being covered, while the other port40, which connects with port 8l, is uncovered. The reduction of pressurein port8, due to the i stoppage of the supply of air therein and thewithdrawal of the contained air through bleed hole 59, causes the valve58 to open, withdrawing the air from the side 55 of the bellows andmoving` the partition 54 to this l side, until the rolls havebeenshifted so that the opposite holes 40 are V equally uncovered. yNormally the'ports' 8 and 81 are in communication with the atmospherethrough the ports 40,- which produces pressure `on diaphragms 71 and 72,to force the valve buttons 7 8 and 74 against the diaphragms 75 and 7 6,to thus close the passages 78 and 79.

With the pressure inv port 8 reduced, by reason of its connected port 40being covered by the edge' of the'music sheet, the pressurel actingthrough port 84 in chamber 95, rwill be relieved and any air pressure inport 78 will be able to pass through port 79 to diaphragm 9,-to raise itand place the port 92 in connection with the exhaust mechanism. 1f, i

however, the oppositeport 40 is uncovered,

so that air may enter ports 81 and 85, this will raise diaphragm 71,force diaphragm 75 down to close port 78, thereby preventing -1 flowrofair therethrough. One'or the other of the diaphragms 71, y72, will beacted `upon by air received through its connected port 40, f i

thereby preventing flow Vof .air `to port l79, unless both ports 40 areclosed, in which case air may Afreely enter to act on diaphragm 9. i

Such positionof parts is shown ini-,F ig. 3. TWhen this occurs, free airobtains accessto the underside of: diaphragm 9, Vwhile the other side isexposed'to the exhausted chamber 7. In consequence, valve90`is'raised,

establishing an exhaust connection/through l ports 91and 92 with bellows45, to cause yit to collapse and move the bar 44.l This resultsente-ring therein will have access through ports 86, and 87, 84, to theouter surfaces approaches that in chamber 7, 7 whereupon valves 78, 74,will be closed *and* equilibrium of pressures will be establishedbetween.

chamber7 and port 79, causing valve 90fto 1106 of the diaphragms 71 72,until this pressure drop and cut the bellows 45 offA from the exhaustingmechanism.`

The length of the adjustable section of tracker blocks 2, may be madegreater orless than has been shown. The mechanismr shown by which theseblocks are moved, is-that which is now preferred by me, but it isevident that other constructions may be usedl to secure the same result.I do not therefore desire to' be limited to the use of this specicmechanism. f v Y -The methodcf controlling the operation of theadjusting mechanism, leaves the roll v.

shiftingmechanismffreeto act without a'ffectingVV the' mechanism forVadjusting the tracker blocks. The roll shifting mechanism is actuateduponthe-covering of either one of the end ports or holes40, while theblock f adi'usting mechanism is actuated onlyk upon the 'covering' ofboth the holes 40.l vThis effect is produced by placing theyalve whichconv trols the bellows 45, itself under the control of the two valves 72 vand '73, 'the latter being controlled, each by the coveringof itsrespective tracker hole 40 by the edge of the music sheet.

Air may be supplied to bellows 45 through a port and pipe connection 92with a relief port 92 located just within the ports 40. This relief portwould be covered while a music sheet is in place and uncovered when thesheet is removed. Leakage past valve 90 would soon lill the bellows l5after stoppage of the air pump.

Having thus described my invention,what i I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States of America,

1. The combination with a roll-centering mechanism, of a tracker boardprovided with means for variably spacing certain of the tracker holes,and means for controlling the spacing of the tracker holes by the rollcentering mechanism.

2. The combination with a tracker bar having members adjustablelengthwise the bar, an outer of said members at each end containing theroll centering holes, those inward of these members containing ordinarytracker holes, andV mea-ns connecting all of said adjustable members tosecure proportional adjustment therebetween.

3. The combination with a` tracker bar having members adjustablelengthwise the bar, an outer of said members at each end containing theroll centering holes, those inward of these members containing ordinarytracker holes, means connecting all of said adjustable members to secureproportional adjustment therebetween, and means controlled by the musicroll through the rollcentering holes for actuating said mechanism.

4. A tracker bar having a central series of fixedly positioned trackerholes, movable units outwardly therefijom containing the remainder ofthe tracker holes, movable members containing the roll-centering holes,and means connecting all of said movable members to move them inharmony.

5. In a tracker bar in combination, aseries of blocks mounted foradjustment lengthwise the bar and containing therein tracker holes, anda series of levers each connected with another and with said blocks tosecure proportional and unequal separa- .tion of the blocks.

6. In a tracker bar in combination, av series of blocks mounted foradjustment lengthwise the bar and containingtherein tracker holes, and aseries of levers connected by one end to fixed pivots and having a pivotconnection, each with its respective,` I tracker block and ,linksconnecting said 7 a levers in series, the points of connection of saidlinks with the actuating levers beingv at different distances from theirixed pivots than their points of connection with theV each having a holeadapted to register with the edges of the music, a pneumaticallyoperated mechanism for centrally positioning the music sheet controlledby the position of 'the said tracker holes relative to the edges of themusic sheet, a pneumatically operated mechanism for adjusting saidtracker members lengthwise the bar, a valve controlling the action ofsaid last named mechanism, a member controlling said valve and portsadapted for connecting it with an exhaust -chamber and with the free airto oppositely actuate the valve, and a pair of valves placed inseries'to control one of said ports and each having a Acontrolling"connectionk with its respective one of the adjustablev tracker holes.

9. A mechanism for controlling a pneumatically operated devicecomprising anorinally closing valve controlling the air connectiontherewith, a pneumatic actuator for said valve, an air connection withboth sides of said actuator, the connection which acts to close thevalve being choked or relatively restricted in area, the same sidehaving a connection with the free air,two valves controlling said freeair connection, and means for controlling said latter valves each fromits respective source.

10. In a device of the character described, adjustable memberscontaining tracker holes, a pneumatically operated device for actuatingsaid adjustable tracker members, an exhausting mechanism connected withsaid actuating device, a valve controlling said connection, a diaphragmcontrolling the position of said valve, an exhaust mechanism having afree connection with one side ofy the diaphragm and a. restrictedconnection with the other side thereof, said latter side having aconnection with the free air, and two diaphragm controlledvalves-controlling said free-air connection, and means for independentlycontrolling eachy of said two valves to open them by the reduction inpressure of the air back of the said adjustable tracker holes.

11.Y In a device of the character described, in combination, a trackerbar, tracker members at each end thereof adjustable lengthwise the barand Veach having a tracker hole adapted to register With the edge of themusic sheet, means for adjusting said tracker members, a pneumaticallyoperated actuating device therefor, a valve controlling the applicationof the air to said pneumatic device, and means for controlling saidvalve comprising an air supplying conduit, tWo valves controlling saidconduit, means normally acting to hold said valves closed and openingmeans for said valves comprising 13 an air connection from each to itsrespective one of the ports leading from the adjustable end trackerholes.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 20th day of May, 1915.

WILLIAM A. SCHROEDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

